Rebirth With J.R. Martinez

J.R. Martinez is a burn survivor, Army veteran, actor, who won Dancing with the Stars, and became a New York Times best-selling author. Now, he speaks all over the world to share his story and knowledge on overcoming life’s battles. Throughout life we are all experiencing ReBirths by ReImagining, ReInventing and ReCreating ourselves into the people we are meant to be. Join J.R. and his very special guests for conversations on life, new beginnings and overcoming adversity on REBIRTH with J.R. Martinez.

J.R. Martinez: The Power of A Very Special Dog Named Romeo 03/31/2022

We Can Do Better: NPR’s TV Critic Eric Deggans on Society 03/18/2022

Hope Lives Here: Jose Arellano's Unbelievable Story of Redemption 03/10/2022

From Heartbreak to Innovation: Life of Dad's Tommy Riles 03/03/2022

From NBC to "The Talk" : Natalie Morales Shares Her Story 02/24/2022

From The White House to Crooked Media: Shaniqua McClendon Is Shaking Up Politics One Vote at a Time 02/17/2022

Merryl Tengesdal: An Angel Shattering the Sky 02/10/2022

Billy Harris: Food, Comedy, and Philanthropy 02/03/2022

Matthew Postlethwaite and Sunny Vachher: From "Peaky Blinders" to Filmmaking With Purpose 01/27/2022

Dustin Tavella: AGT Champion Shares The True Magic of Life 01/20/2022

Eric Bigger: Tap Into Real Feelings To See The Bigger Picture 01/13/2022

Stipe Miocic: The King of The Octagon Shares What's Worth Fighting For 01/06/2022

Becky Robinson: From Heavy Pours to Searching for Something More, This Comedian Doesn't Hold Back 12/30/2021

Victoria Arlen: An ESPN Star's Miraculous Journey Back To Health 12/23/2021

Megan Devine: On Grief - It’s OK That You’re Not Okay 12/16/2021

Rob Paulsen: Voice Theatrics - How the Ninja Turtles Saved My Life 12/09/2021

Cristela Alonzo: Why Representation in Hollywood Matters 12/03/2021

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris: California's First Surgeon General Talks ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) 11/30/2021

Kechi Okwuchi: True Grace After Trauma 11/24/2021

Petal Modeste: Have Open Conversations with Your Children 07/01/2021

Petal Modeste: Have Open Conversations with Your Children Petal Modeste is an Associate Dean at Columbia Law School, overseeing Professional Advancement, Graduate Degree Programs and Executive Education. She is also the creator and host of the Parenting for the Future Podcast, which gives parents a new lens through which to understand the forces that shape our world as well as cutting-edge parenting tools to help them raise the next generation of powerful, purposeful people. She serves on the boards of several nonprofits dedicated to positively impacting the lives of families and children. Petal shares her rebirth story, why it’s important to have open conversations at the dinner table with your children, and the first time she realized she was a second-class citizen. Key Takeaways A little bit about Petal and where she is from. Studies show that teenagers that have at least 1-3 meals a week with their families, they’re less likely to do drugs. By talking to members of your family, you can get a bigger picture of the world at large. Not everyone in your family thinks the same and it opens you up for more dialogue. Good conversations start at the dinner table. So many people don’t actually know how to have a conversation. With so much social unrest happening, people are confused about how to even start the conversation if they’re not sure how to even address it themselves. Parents are way more powerful than they recognize. Our children are living in a completely different world than what we’ve experienced as children. It’s almost hard to relate. It’s important to teach your children that it’s easy to communicate with you, even if it’s not always pleasant. We really have to be thoughtful and mindful of WHO our children are hanging out with. What do they believe? Are they a positive or toxic influence on your family? JR has put himself in an interesting position with his daughter. They’re so close and have a great friendship that she sometimes forgets that he’s her parent. Why did Petal go to law school? Petal never let other people define her. She is her own woman. Look out world! Petal left corporate America so that she could be a more present mother. Why did Petal start her podcast, Parenting for the Future? JR noticed that he has a difficult time apologizing because that’s something that was not modeled in his household. What is something that Petal has discovered since having her podcast? We have a lot to teach our children, but we also have to actively engage in who they are. Really get to know their personality. They’re not a direct reflection of you. Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/19680065

Dan Vargas & Lauryn Anabelle Martinez 06/28/2021

Dan Vargas & Lauryn Anabelle Martinez Happy Father’s Day! Today we have two special guests, Dan Vargas, who was featured in a previous podcast episode. He served 20 years in the United States Air Force and now works in a nonprofit capacity to help veterans. And J.R. has his very own 9-year old daughter, Lauryn Anabelle on the show! Dan has been a big mentor and father figure to J.R. and Dan talks about why it’s important to be vulnerable and apologize to your children. Lauryn shares why she loves hanging out with dad and also talks about some of the dislikes about dad in a very honest and open conversation. Key Takeaways Dan’s father wasn’t really around much. The person he looked up to the most was his art teacher. Dan grew up in a pretty dysfunctional family. It was riddled with affairs, sexual abuse, and suicide. Dan didn’t want his children to go through the same thing he went through. Your children shouldn’t have to sacrifice for you. Why did Dan originally join the military? It was to get away from home. When Dan met J.R., he knew he was hurting. Dan forgives his parents. They had some crazy upbringings. J.R. works on being vulnerable with his daughter. Dan talks about how that has been fundamental to his relationship with his 22-year-old daughter. As a parent, it’s your job to protect your child, but it can be hard to shake that when they start standing on their own two feet. Kids really need structure and discipline. Children need security. How does Dan connect with his adult daughter now? Dan is best friends with his daughter. He knows he raised her to be tough, but in a good way. To J.R., Dan is a father figure to him. He was the first person to show J.R. what true vulnerability looks like, especially with another man, and not have it be awkward. J.R. was repeating some unhealthy patterns onto his daughter. The first person he called to help him break the cycle was Dan. Next up is little Lauryn Anabelle on the podcast! Belle sometimes feels like dad doesn’t listen or he’s not in the present. What can J.R. do better to fix this? Belle loves how dad is fun to be around. She sees some of her friend’s parents being too strict. Belle got J.R. on TikTok, too! What are some of the positives and negatives that Belle likes about dad? Belle talks about how they recently went out and ordered some remote control cars to play with. Belle asks herself a lot of questions and does quite a bit of self-reflection on why certain things make her mad when she’s alone. What was the maddest Belle has ever been mad at her dad? Belle created a runaway bag. She might be moving to Canada if her parents make her too mad. J.R. thanks Belle for picking him to be her dad. Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/19635806

Tia Stokes: You Just Gotta Keep Pushing Through 06/10/2021

Tia Stokes: You Just Gotta Keep Pushing Through ia Stokes is a dancer that got her fame on TikTok for doing dances in her hospital room while she was battling leukemia. After a year-long journey, Tia is now finally in remission. She shares her journey on this week’s episode and why it’s so important to leave people smiling, in joy, and happy. So much good has come from documenting her cancer experience in the hospital, and she really encourages everyone listening in on today’s show to keep pushing through your hardships, no matter what. Key Takeaways JR downloaded TikTok in the summer of 2020. Yep! And then, JR saw Tia on the platform. Her dancing while battling with Leukemia really inspired him. People will never remember the way you look, but they will always remember how you made them feel. No matter what you’re going through, life is about bringing joy and happiness to others. Tia got diagnosed with cancer slightly over a year ago and she was determined to document her journey. Tia is a performer and dancer at heart. People are inherently good. This experience has shown Tia that there are SO MANY good people out there. Tia’s cancer battle was one of the hardest things she had to go through. Tia made a simple goal: Just to dance 15 mins a day. Tia talks about her husband and how supportive he’s been throughout her journey. There’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable and crying! Remember, there is so much to be grateful for, but it’s not always easy to see it when you’re going through adversity. Crying is a very healing thing to do for you and your body. You have to practice positivity daily. Tia lost so much of her identity and now she has scars from the cancer. However, she remembers it’s important to embrace these reminders. Tia talks about her children and how they have been affected by this cancer and morality scare. Choose happiness. Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/19424315

Raghunath Cappo: We Have to Walk Away From Normality 06/03/2021

Raghunath Cappo: We Have to Walk Away From Normality Raghunath Cappo is an American punk rock musician, best known as the vocalist for the band Youth of Today, who has experienced many rebirths. Today, he is an avid Yoga Teacher, Hare Krishna community member, and an advocate of the raw food lifestyle and diet. However, his story doesn’t end there. Raghunath made a trip to India where he spent over six years as a monk, living and breathing a new philosophy and spirituality. He shares his journey and his story in this week’s episode! Key Takeaways Raghunath grew up in the heavy (and drugged-out) punk rock scene of New York City in the 80s. Raghunath decided to make a bold statement and be in a clean punk rock band. No drugs! No Alcohol! And plant-based living! Raghunath really wanted to go down a path of self-discipline and self-improvement. The ego is really the enemy. It sucks a lot of joy out of your life. Raghunath shares why he decided to completely walk away from his band and the punk rock scene. Every single day has the chance to be a rebirth! It starts with just a small decision. All living beings are struggling. Why did Raghunath decide to leave New York and travel to India? Travelling in the 80s was a whole different beast! If you got robbed or lost your passport, people just thought you went missing. Raghunath once stayed in a place that had one landline in the whole village. How did Raghunath get his name? What was Raghunath’s life like as a monk? It’s important that you accept what makes sense to you. Don’t blindly say yes if you don’t understand it. You develop strong ties to your beliefs by living it, breathing it, and understanding the ‘why’ behind it. Raghunath applies what he’s learned in India into his own yoga studio. What’s the reception been like when people come in and experience something completely different? Raghunath loves taking groups on spiritual journeys to experience first-hand what he believes in and teaches. Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/19342682

Ingrid Vanderveldt: Women Leaders — I Believe In You! 05/21/2021

Ingrid Vanderveldt: Women Leaders — I Believe In You! Ingrid Vanderveldt is the Chairman and CEO of Empowering a Billion Women (EBW), EBW Distributors (a division of EBW2020) & Vanderveldt Global Investments. Ingrid has been named one of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 Global Leaders, ranked #1 “Super Connector” by Fast Company, and is the recipient of the Forbes & Northwestern Mutual Global “Entrepreneur in Excellence Award”. Ingrid has achieved a lot, but growing up she had a lot of adversity to overcome. She has definitely experienced a rebirth and shares her unique story of being considered one of the ‘stupid kids’ to someone who has broken through ceilings and elevated women’s voices. Key Takeaways How did Ingrid and J.R. meet? We always want to ask the question: How do we take some of the traumatic experiences we’ve experienced in our life and use it for good, and help more people? Back then, Ingrid was called ‘retarded’ by her teacher and she was kicked out of school for her learning disability. Ingrid needed a special bus to go to school, and because she was the only one, she ended up becoming best friends with the bus driver as a child. He was like her second father. However, she got bullied by the other kids every day for being dumb. The four most powerful words a father can say to his daughter is, “I believe in you.” Let’s not prejudge. Come into the world with love. Ingrid talks about her experience at Dell and the impact that she made there. We actually tend to overcomplicate things. Either because of lack of confidence or because we want to self-sabotage ourselves. As we are coming out on the other side of the pandemic, it’s very apparent that things will not work the same way they did back in 2018 and beyond. We are in a different world. The fastest engine to getting our economy on track is through women! Ingrid has the numbers to back it up. How did Dell’s program become so accessible to women entrepreneurs? Women want to be mentored by other women, but the challenge is there are so few of us who’ve walked the walk. Ingrid has some big goals to empower a billion women for 2030. How can you support her on this mission? Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/19190786

Antwone Fisher: Finding Fish 05/13/2021

Antwone Fisher: Finding Fish Antwone Fisher was born in prison to a single mother and grew up in foster care before joining the United States Navy. Antwone had a hard life and spent 14 years of his childhood being abused physically, verbally, and sexually by his foster parents. His life story has been made into a movie where Denzel Washington plays him. Antwone shares a little bit about his journey and how he came to find a new extended family later in his life, and what a blessing his wife has been in his life throughout the last 25+ years. Key Takeaways Antwone spent 11 years in the Navy. Who is Antwone and where did he grow up? Antwone was told he was dyslexic so he spent extra time learning new words, this is how he first fell in love with words and the writing process. Antwone learned in the Navy that he can teach himself anything. Antwone received a check for $250k, but being dyslexic, he originally thought it was 2,500 dollars. What was it like growing up in foster care? What does Antwone think about the foster care system in the United States? Who is Antwone’s favorite social worker and mentor? Here’s what it matters to care about another individual, no matter how small the act might seem. JR shares why it’s important that men cry it out sometimes. It’s not a weakness. What was it like watching the Antwone Fisher film for the very first time? Antwone had doubts about talking about his story, in both his book and in the film, but when people had such a positive reaction to it, he realized the impact he had made on other people’s lives. Antwone shares a little bit about his wife and how he knew right away that she was the one for him. Why did Antwone want to look for his father? Antwone’s discovery allowed him to find and meet an entire extended family he did not know existed. Little did Antwone know. A lot of his extended family lived right around the corner from where he grew up in foster care and where he was getting abused by his foster family. It was surreal. Antwone met his mother and didn’t think much of it… until he got on a plane to go back home. People who have been through a lot don’t feel the need to sugarcoat things. Antwone’s mother told him she did not want him and that’s why she did not go back for him when he was in foster care. So many families don’t have a clear line of leadership. Antwone explains what he means. Antwone shares some of the leadership mistakes he made early in his military career. Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/19089206

Gina Chavez: Understanding The Depth of Love for The First Time 05/06/2021

Gina Chavez: Understanding The Depth of Love for The First Time Gina Chavez is an American bilingual Latin-folk singer, and songwriter who has been performing since 2004, releasing her first recording in 2007. She's made her presence known with her work in El Salvador, being named one of 11 southern iconic women who have left a beautiful footprint across the south. Her work in El Salvador continues to make a worldwide difference outside of music. Gina shares her story, her journey, and how she had to overcome playing small to get to where she is today. She also shares the beautiful relationship she shares with her wife, and how they first found out that they both loved each other. Key Takeaways How did Gina get her start in the music industry? Gina is currently undergoing her biggest rebirth journey to date. Have you ever thought, “If I could just get out of my own way.”? Gina doesn’t have a regular ‘creative song writing’ practice. “It’s not feminine to be loud and take up space.” That’s what our society teaches us. These rules are universal no matter what culture you’re from. What was it like to be nominated for a Latin Grammy? Gina shares what it was like leaving the US for the very first time to study abroad. Both Gina and JR talk about the insecurities they’ve felt when speaking Spanish. Gina shares how she found her voice. Music saves so many people’s lives. Music brings community, connection, and healing. Gina wants to crawl in a hole when someone wants her to step into her greatness. She doesn’t want to do it. Gina shares the unexpected story of how she fell in love with a woman, who is now her wife, and how she had to reexamine her religion. Gina cried for a whole year and prayed to God as to why she was this way. Gina shares the story of how she first came out as gay to her wife. What is Gina currently up to right now? Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/18987902

Caleb Campbell: I Pushed My Emotions Down to Deal With the Pressure. It Didn’t Work. 04/29/2021

Caleb Campbell: I Pushed My Emotions Down to Deal With the Pressure. It Didn’t Work. Caleb Campbell is a well-known emotional wellness speaker and workshop facilitator that specializes in organizational effectiveness, development and change management. Caleb's keynotes and strategies help cultivate safe inclusive environments while helping maximize the employee experience through systems designed to help foster a deeper sense of connection to themselves, the people around them and the greater organizational mission. Caleb is also a West Point graduate, former Army Officer and NFL Draft Pick, and shares his struggles as a man who had zero emotional tools to handle the immense pressure he was faced with as a young adult in this week’s episode. Key Takeaways Everything comes down to timing. JR shares how he randomly bumped into Caleb. How did Caleb get started in football? Parents want to be encouraging and supportive, but then at the same time, it can turn their children off completely or they can unknowingly have them develop a complex. Caleb talks about Christianity and God, and how he had to deconstruct his religion before building it back up again. How do we posture our hearts for more humility? Despite being loved in football, Caleb was miserable and always bullied. Why did Caleb join the military? Caleb had a deep longing within his heart to make a bigger impact. Caleb suppressed all of his pain and emotions, and when he couldn’t handle it anymore, he had a really bad rage problem. Caleb was getting pulled in two directions. His West Point superiors were telling him one thing, but society was telling him another. Caleb experienced his first panic attack when he became ‘famous’. When Caleb found out he was not allowed to go to the NFL while he was still at West Point, he was relieved. It meant he didn’t have to show people he didn’t have what it takes. Caleb reads out loud a negative ‘fan’ letter he received. Caleb had no tools in his emotional toolbelt to handle or deal with someone deeply calling him a coward like that. Instead of working through his fears, Caleb developed self-hatred. Caleb was actively trying to kill himself. There is no healing without vulnerability, and there is no vulnerability without community. How did Caleb repair his relationship with his mother? They used to get into tough yelling matches because they didn’t see eye to eye. Caleb talks about his relationship with his wife and some of the reasons why you always have to show up and just do the work. Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/18885194

Anna Marie Johnson Teague and Ted Bunch: Building Healthy Masculinity in Our Boys 04/22/2021

Anna Marie Johnson Teague and Ted Bunch: Building Healthy Masculinity in Our Boys Anna Marie Johnson Teague and Ted Bunch are the co-authors of The Book of Dares, a new book that discusses the male experience and how to overcome stereotypes and build healthy masculinity in our young boys. This isn’t just a book for men either! Everyone of all genders can benefit from this book to better understand a man’s upbringing and why some men feel compelled to act aggressively and violently against women. It’s time men can reimagine what it looks like to be and live their full authentic self without shame. Key Takeaways A little bit about Anna Marie! A little bit about Ted! Why do men abuse women? Anna Marie and Ted’s book is for young male children. This book is designed to create healthy masculinity for our young boys. This is not just a book for boys, women can read this book too to better understand the male experience. JR shares his experience of finally being able to cry ‘safely’ at the age of 24 years old. Vulnerability is a place of strength. Our society sees it as a weakness. Boys are mimicking what they see in their male role models. Our culture has taught boys and men that you can’t be open with your feelings. It’s painful because a whole gender suffers. How can parents encourage their children to be more vulnerable? Anna Marie noticed that at night when the world is getting quiet is when her child wants to share. It’s tough because she’s so darn tired at the end of the day. Acknowledgement is such an empowering thing. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge when someone has something vulnerable. Men have a hard time asking for help. JR shares a story of when a man, a stranger, apologized to him. JR has a hard time apologizing, despite knowing it’s a good thing to do. He was taught not to apologize at a young age and it’s difficult to break that cycle. We teach our boys to sexually objectify women because, if you don’t, then you might be seen as ‘gay’. Censorship is not an option for your children. You have to help provide them with the right tools for what the world will throw at them. Sexualization is part of our culture. We need to educate our children and show them how to be media literate. Compassion for different people, for different races, has been heightened. It’s hard to build connection and empathy. What is privilege? What is white privilege? And how do you communicate that to your children? Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/18800354

Charles Clark: When You Put Other People First and Put Yourself Second, You Can Still Win! 04/15/2021

Charles Clark: When You Put Other People First and Put Yourself Second, You Can Still Win! By the age of 22, Charles Clark was a 3 time National Champion, 10 times All American, and placed as the 6th fastest man in the world at IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. He was living his dream and was one year away from inking his first shoe deal as a track and field superstar. On the outside, he was thriving, but his inner champion was barely pounding the surface. He could not find the joy, the gratefulness, within the work he was doing because he felt like he was not good enough. Charles shares his journey from being ungrateful to blessed for every opportunity that has come his way; good or bad. Key Takeaways Charles was the 6th fastest man in the world. You can have a God-given talent, but nothing comes naturally. You have to work hard to sustain it, develop it, and refine it. Charles sustained a hamstring injury that could have prevented him from competing. This is how he decided to overcome it. Charles was doing everything right, but he still couldn’t be grateful for what he had. This time, Charles found himself with another injury, and it was so bad that it ended his career. He was depressed, but he realized he had to change his mindset. How does Charles define purpose? When you put other people first and put yourself second, you can still win! By doing a speech at 24 years old, telling people his story, a girl came up to him and told Charles he saved her life. When did Charles realize that he should retire from track and field? The measure of your character is the true measure of your success. Charles wants people to overcome adversity. Adversity is a horrible thing to waste. Hardship might set you back but it's the very thing that will catapult you forward. It’s all about the process. If you don't go through the hard times, you can’t get built by it. Before Charles signed up for track and field, how did he discover he had this special talent? Focus on the small victories, gain confidence, and then own who you are. Continue On Your Journey Charles on Facebook Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/18729974

Tyler Campbell: If I’m Going to Bet on Anybody, I’m Going to Bet on Myself 04/08/2021

Tyler Campbell: If I’m Going to Bet on Anybody, I’m Going to Bet on Myself Tyler Campbell was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2007 but would continue to pursue football for two more years before the neurologist permanently sidelined Tyler’s dreams to play in the NFL. His journey into football was not easy, having lost multiple scholarships due to underage drinking, Tyler knew he had an uphill battle to take if he really wanted to make it into football. Today, Tyler shares a bit of his story, his dreams, and his adversities, and the life he’s created after football. Key Takeaways Tyler wanted to tell his story when he was dancing with the stars and watched JR’s ‘game film’ to get ready. Who is Tyler and what was it like growing up with a famous football player, Earl Campbell? Tyler shares a little bit about his family history and how they come from a long line of people doing impactful and meaningful things. Tyler grew up not knowing the football side of his dad. His dad kept all of his trophies out of the house. Tyler’s first love was in basketball and then he converted over to football. However, he wasn’t as good as his brother or his dad. This had a lot of psychological impacts on Tyler. He felt like he had let his family down. That was just his own internal monologue. One thing Tyler overlooked was he and his father put in the work early on. They showed up consistently. When he recognized that, things started to shift for him. If you want it bad enough, you will get there. Just keep hanging on. Tyler got in trouble for underage drinking and it severely hurt his chances to become a pro athlete. This is something Tyler had to own up to. He lost every single scholarship. If I’m going to bet on anybody… Tyler was going to bet on himself. After so much struggle and determination, Tyler was living his dream...until he got injured. This was the first time he had depression. Football defined Tyler. The words that his father told him, that Campbells don’t quit, Tyler used his adversity as fuel. Tyler decided he was going to put more things on his plate that would define him as a person, and not as a ‘football athlete’. This was life-changing. Mentoring others, working on himself, he saw a completely new world. Finally, Tyler got into his dream school!!! We all hurt differently. Tyler learned in his injury recovery that he had to put his ego aside and show up as a leader and mentor to his teammates. Be a teammate, you don’t know what somebody else is going through. Tyler talks about the day he found out he couldn’t walk. That’s when he discovered he had MS. By this point in Tyler’s life, adversity was just the name of the game. It was nothing he couldn’t handle. Tyler had to take all of his finals left-handed. Tyler had another MS relapse. And that was it, his potential NFL career had officially ended. Tyler found his way through communication and started to become a speaker. When he got up on stage to talk at an MS conference, it changed Tyler’s life. You can change the world with your words. Tyler opens up about his erectile dysfunction and the stigma black men have talking about their emotions. Do not minimize your pain. If it’s painful, you got to get it out. What advice would Tyler give to his younger self? Continue On Your Journey Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, please head over to iTunes and leave a review. Help others discover the REBIRTH podcast so they, too, can be inspired and motivated by the stories shared in these episodes. This episode is sponsored by Walmart. /episode/index/show/rebirthwithjrmartinez/id/18646517

Rebirth With J.R. Martinez

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